bgreenster

I'm no expert, but I would think that if you want to take more courses to compensate, then take courses that cover what you want to do in a future program. So, maybe different kinds of Stats courses and Economics courses that will cover the sort of quantitative topics that your studies would encompass. I would look on the websites of possible programs and see what type of quant they cover in their masters coursework and take precursors for those.

I'm sure it doesn't hurt to do that much, but I was under the impression that college-level Stats and regular Calculus is enough... at least for MPP/MPA

I second everything here. The websites drove me crazy! It was awful when I was trying to research programs and figure out which had professors that were into my area of interest. On a LOT of the sites, I had to individually go through every faculty member to see what they taught/researched, and it took ages. It was such a relief anytime I got onto a school's website that listed professors by their areas of interest (and definitely made me think more highly of that school, haha) I ended up deciding NOT to go for a dual degree at Texas because I was so confused by the process. I even asked faculty questions, but no one could give me straight answers for the dual. I was just continuously told "this is how it is for our department, ask the other school about its department." I couldn't even figure out exactly what day it all had to be in by because the two schools had different deadlines and it wasn't clear how it all needed to be done. Ah well, I figured I could just apply for dual if I get into the one program. I'm just glad I started researching programs a year ago so I was able to get it all straight with plenty of time for applying. Can't wait for this whole process to be over; I feel like it took over my life the past 9 months

I feel you. I have different sets of friends of FB: most of the ones that wanted to do so have either completed master's/law/medical degrees or are finishing them up now, but I also have my fellow Peace Corps Volunteers. It seems that, like me, basically anyone who didn't already have a degree came back and applied so that's mostly who I am hearing about right now. Also, my sister just finished undergrad - I know a number of her friends, who are also applying, so that kind of adds another level of "these young bucks are getting into school, what about YOU" mentality. I had a heck of a time with my recs, so I feel your pain. I was sitting there harassing my referees nearly daily (after the deadline) trying to be polite and gracious, but also freaking out. One guy even missed the extension I got for him, which didn't help stress levels. Luckily, as others are saying, the schools are pretty nice about issues with recommendations. Good luck getting it all sorted out! Oh, and I have always used "If" to get my mind straight I looked up "Invictus" and also really liked that one; kind of makes me feel prepared for warfare after reading it, ha.

Wow - congrats! I'm jealous - I applied to American about six weeks ago, but to the MEPGA program in SIS. I would LOVE to hear (something positive haha) back from someone just to know I won't be rejected across the board! I wonder if it's normal for American to let people know back so soon?

My pride wouldn't let me post a rejection... in some ways, I'd want to for some encouraging attention, but I don't want other people to know I didn't get in somewhere. You know, all those "frenemies" who kinda enjoy watching others' misery. Like others, I tend just to post either good stuff or political/news links. I'm more with the egomaniacal group of people on Facebook that have accounts to show how awesome we are (half kidding)

Ha! Me too. I let myself get on here and do my routine of checking what people are saying/results (even though I know almost no policy results will be posted) in the morning (kiiinda breaking the rule right now, but I got bored) and otherwise won't let myself think about it during the day. I'm trying just to keep it out of my mind and pretend this whole grad school thing isn't even going on right now. But that's also why going on Facebook these days is so dangerous - too many others finding out from schools, posting it, and making it a reality in my alter-ego life

Thanks I was trying to voice the reasoning behind my stress (and why I'm much snappier than a person should be!) to my fiancee, who really doesn't get this whole process. Part of it is the underlying fear that I will get in nowhere, and have no idea what to do with myself. I was explaining this, and his response was, "But what are the chances of THAT happening?" to which I can only think, "In my brain... 100%" ha

I had one of those panic moments yesterday. Although I *know* Duke isn't making decisions until March, the email from Admissions still gave me a heart attack. The panic then made it hard for me to focus on what it said, which was that my application has now moved into "under review." It's not worth freaking out just to know something like that, guys - please don't send me emails! And I thought I was holding it all together really well... I really did think that I was handling the wait fine, and overall, I am. However, hearing about other people finding out (for other fields) is wearing me down. If they know, why can't I? I'm just getting so jealous of friends being able to plan/know where they'll be living come August. Also, my reaction yesterday was "How can it take so long to review applications?!?" In my brain, I understand that they need to thoroughly go through tons of applications and yadda yadda yadda, but it's still kinda hard to believe it takes two months to do it. Especially when other places/fields are letting people know in less time. One of my schools is driving me crazy because I don't even know if everything is ok with the application - they don't have a reliable online system and are terrible at actually answering questions. I can't wait til March! [end freak out - rant]

The security type people in Azerbaijan were also still called KGB (pronounced kuhgabuh)

I was long distance while I was in the Peace Corps, and will likely be sorta long distance for my master's (if I get in ). My fiancee works on the road, which makes it easier for choosing schools, but also kind of guarantees that we aren't around each other all the time. As much as it sucks being apart, I believe it will also be kind of good to be apart during my studies so that I can focus on my work. I talked to someone else that had done long distance while in grad school, and heard the same thing - while we're studying, we won't have but so much time to be hanging out and all that anyway, so it can be good not to have the distraction of the SO around (and the gulit for not being able to be the best SO yourself because you're so busy/stressed).

You are NOT a bad person for having these thoughts/feelings. I'm having a hard enough time hearing about my close friends' acceptances (who I am genuinely happy for) while I sit here waiting to hear back from anywhere. I cringe thinking of going through all that, but I guess it's just something you gotta get through. If I were in your position, I would just tell my boyfriend about how it is likely to be difficult so that he can maybe be on the lookout for when you (inevitably) get upset and can be there to support you. It's hard enough for me to do all this with a significant other! I will say though that I've been on the other side of this - I moved several times growing up, and it helped me to think of it as both an adventure and a way to start over. I imagine it's even easier these days since there is internet/Skype, etc. (Makes me feel old to think of how I had to write actual letters when I moved!) It's just about how you present it to the kids, and make sure they know they can talk to you when they are having difficulties with the process. It probably also helped when I was a kid to think that it was something that was going to happen, and I didn't have a choice in the whole thing. I guess that seems kind of weird, but I was the type to deal better with things if I just had to accept them, rather than think I had the chance to change it. If anything, moving is easier on children than us adults; getting to be superstars in the new school and making friends quickly

Hmm... I hadn't really thought about it. I think I've been too scared to think of it going either way: thinking of being rejected gives me panic attacks and thinking of getting in feels like I'm jinxing it! I'll probably just jump around a lot and get some champagne to celebrate. I'm going to the Galapagos/South America this summer for my wedding/honeymoon so that will be either celebration or consolation enough

March for us in public policy

Yeah, one of my friends got into Minnesota Public Policy yesterday... made me wish I had applied there, just so I could hear from SOMEONE now ... aside from Maryland, I've likely got almost a two month wait ahead of me. It's just killing me that my friends are figuring things out and able to make plans and I can't for aaaaaages. I just want to know!

I took quant classes in undergrad, when I thought I wanted to go into business (Mico/Macro Econ and 2 Accounting classes) - but did not do well in the econ classes. 18 year olds should not be dealing with economic theory their first semesters in college Luckily, I took AP Calc and Stat in high school (which schools said they'd accept since I got college credit for it) although it also means I haven't taken math in over 10 years! ... Unless you count me desperately trying to remember algebra and geometry for taking the GRE... Eek! I took a Micro-econ class through UCB Extension, and am probably going to go ahead and re-take Macro as well... I wanted to show that I can do well in those classes (and anyway, my grades from before don't count for the few schools that have a set requirement.. damn you, teenaged bgreenster!) I will absolutely (if I get in) be taking the refresher summer course most schools offer. And aside from that, I didn't apply to quant-heavy programs

I have no Plan B. I just got back from the Peace Corps and am starting work as a bartender while I wait to hear back from schools. I tried to give myself a safety (Tennessee) but as we all know, it's hard actually to have safeties when applying for grad school. Since I'm hoping to work in human rights/with refugees, I would basically get whatever position I could (even volunteer) to try and get my foot in the door somewhere. I've already found a place or two in Nashville that I can at least volunteer at, if it comes to it. Luckily, I have a fiancee with a "real" job, so I don't have to stress TOO too much about supporting myself, although I'd like to be able to. Personally, I've found that I work best when I kind of "wing it" and just roll with whatever comes my way. I'm also of the mindset that things will happen the way they're supposed to, even if it's stressful and not in the way I originally hoped. I sure would be nice if THIS went the way I wanted, though

Surprisingly (to me), a number of the schools I've applied to aren't talked about much on here. Even Duke doesn't get too much mention, and it IS top-ranked. I think it's just that the people on thegradcafe going for the MPP/MPA are high achievers, tending to either go for an Ivy-type school or be around DC. Yes, it's nice to have a "high" ranking, but I went with whichever schools felt right for what I wanted to do. I think you knew best what was good for you, and now it's just that time that we don't have anything better to do than second guess everything we have done. Don't worry about it

I had major problems with late recommendations. I'm not sure about all departments, but the schools I applied to all had an admissions person who fields questions, etc. that I could in touch with. When it became apparent to me that some of my recommendations really just weren't going to make it in time, I emailed the school to let them know of the situation. They were pretty great about it, and just told me it had to be in by a certain time (those schools said about a week, although the one school made even that seem a bit flexible). Of course, one of my recommenders missed the extension date by a day, but it seems not to have been a problem. I would suggest getting in touch with the department or admissions head, and appraising them of the situation. They all seem understanding over this side of it being out of our hands. When I messaged, the response tended to be "we appreciate you letting us know." It certainly can't hurt to try, and just try and let your recommendation writer know the urgency of getting it in immediately. Luckily, you probably have until Tuesday before ad com does anything else. (By the way, you can email on weekends, especially around this time... I literally had one woman from a school email me on New Year's Eve, in the evening - they seem to be basically working through the week, at least via email when not in the office)

I think I still have a lot of time left, since public policy won't be until March (and today was the deadline for most of my programs). I'm still doing okay; one thing the Peace Corps really did teach me was to be more relaxed about things out of my control. That doesn't stop me from coming on here, of course Honestly, I'm just glad to have the application part done, more or less. It was even more stressful than I could imagine. I wrote my general SOP back in the summer; talked to all my recommenders in August/September and thought that 4 months was plenty of notice... and yet, two of my recommenders sent in a number of my letters in late. Luckily, as others are saying, the schools give you some leeway. I just contacted the department when it became apparent that my recommendations wouldn't make it on time, and they were really cool about it. Last Monday, though, I was more than a bit of a wreck because my recommender managed even to be a day late for the extension I got him. I think there's still one late for today's application, but that school doesn't have online stuff, and the admissions "helper" keeps not telling me if they've received the recommendations or not. Sigh, it's particularly hard when you're kind of a control freak. Guess now it's time to start getting my FAFSA together.... (and figuring out how to do all that)

Also, the program does strike me as being fairly quantitative, but not overly so. Looking at the requirements, there are quite a few economic and analytical course, but I feel like that's necessary for something like global human development. Part of the reason I'm going for my master's is so that I can get that kind of knowledge, which is hard to receive simply working in development. I'm guessing it will also matter what you want to concentrate on, though. The GHD program is similar in some ways with the regular MSFS program, but I think the specificity is what makes it unique. This is purely human development, with everything being based on that side of it. It puts a more personal view into development work, that I think isn't found in other public policy/development programs. But that's just the impression I get. In this program, I like that there are plenty of electives, as well as available certificates. I would definitely go that route, since I'm trying to continue language study during my graduate courses. I just wish that part of the Georgetown SOP included why I think it's a good fit for me - trying to do the whole implied reasons when describing future goals. I will be so glad when I'm done with it!

I'm applying to the GHD program. I had decided not to apply to Georgetown, and then they announced this and I couldn't help myself You should definitely ask the admissions contacts. I am on the mailing list, so I get the various updates and such. There will be a final online chat this Friday the 6th from 3-4 PM EST. This is the link I was sent: http://groupchat02.askadmissions.net/01/Landingpage.aspx?clientname=georgetowngsas. I'm not entirely sure about the aid, although I haven't heard great things about Georgetown's financial packages in general. I'm hoping that there may be better aid now because it's a brand-new program that needs to catch the interest of students who may want to go somewhere more proven. I only made it to the tail end of an online chat, but I was told that they are going for 20 people in the first cohort. On a slightly different note, I was pretty bummed by the prompts. Not really something I could use my general SOP to write, and so it's the only part of all my applications I haven't completed... must figure out those two/three issues and my leadership tests out pretty darn soon!

I've applied for the Master's in Ethics, Peace and Global Affairs (through the International Peace and Conflict Resolution program). I've spoken to an alumnus to American, who said good things about the program but more for it being a huge program that gets people jobs. I'm not sure if it covers all the departments and programs, but most students are working a lot in addition to their classes. For me, this sounds pretty nice since I'm going to grad school to get a job, not for the sake of further academia. However, it is a huge program, so it doesn't seem like you get that personal touch that smaller schools have. Just depends on what people like, and I think maybe there are a lot of people who want those smaller cohorts. I'd be stoked to get into the EPGA program (if I got funding) because I think it's unique and exactly what I would like to do (I want to work with refugees/IDPs from conflict areas - both directly and through advocacy/policy). But early on, I was VERY confused by the AU website and trying to figure out which program was best for me, until I found EPGA. There are just so many to choose from, and some seem quite similar. I even emailed someone about the differences in the departments and never got a reply. Obviously, that hasn't deterred me from applying (and luckily, Peace Corps volunteers get application fees waived there) but it did concern me.